Sinn Féin’s Irish language spokesperson, Peadar Tóibín TD, has criticised the government’s budget which is supported by Fianna Fáil due to the pitiful investment made in Irish.

Deputy Tóibín said:

“This is a critical time for Irish and the Gaeltacht. According to the experts, we have only a few years to act in order to save Irish as a living language. Members of Fine Gael have told us that language planning would save the Gaeltacht regions. But they are not giving enough money to actualise these plans.

“There has been an increase of only €2.5 million in the budget for the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language. And that is the entirety of the money that was promised today. It is not enough. Language planning regions were left hard up because Minister for State Joe McHugh is giving them only €100,000. These regions won’t be able to enact their plans. They can’t hire the necessary staff. They have to re-write their plans and they won’t be able to fulfil all their aims.

“Conradh na Gaeilge was looking for €5 million to put a start on their plan ‘Investment in the Irish language and in the Gaeltacht from 2018 onwards’. Despite the fact that there were over 83 Oireachtas members supporting their practical, reasonable demands – the government weren’t happy to finance it.

“There has been a fall of €850,000 on the budget of Údarás na Gaeltachta – an the government isn’t giving them additional funding to deal with this shortage.

“It’s worth remembering that investment rates in Irish and in the Gaeltacht are terrible low – from 2008-2014 there was a reduction of 89% in the Irish, Gaeltacht and Islands budget. Last year the budget was reduced by 9%.

“It’s clear that Minister Humphreys or Minister for State Joe McHugh are not serious about Irish or the Gaeltacht. And it’s clear that Fianna Fáil don’t care either as they are supporting this miserable monetary allocation.”